Among the hotels in Kleine Scheidegg , Bellevue
hotel served most often as Eiger " base camp ".
First mountain hotel , future Bellevue, build in 1840 by Seiler family on
the Kleine Scheidegg , was greatly enlarged in the 19th century. In 1896 ,
" Hotel des Alpes ' is built to compete Bellevue . Adolf Seiler bought
it in 1912 and connects the two buildings in 1929. The meeting of the two
buildings is accompanied by a complete renovation of their rooms, which give
" Hotel Bellevue des Alpes " its current appearance.
Classified as "Historic Hotel of the Year 2011" , Hotel Bellevue
des Alpes is one of the few great hotels of the 19th century still in activity,
this is 5th generation owner managing this lovely hotel. Hotel website here
Historic first climbers who have made the history of Eiger north face were
mostly penniless .
Lacking any money, tinkering their equipment (corners , crampons !) themselves,
they reached Grindelwald often by their own means (eg cycling ) , and spent
the night under a tent in the green meadows (which runs in part of the Eiger
Trail ) behind rich hotels.
Later this hotel has hosted both greatest mountaineers and actors.
Bellevue hotel hall is full of memories pictures.
A more recent movie "The north face" has been filmed in 2008, it
is 1936 Tony Kurtz's tragedy.
Eiger fame
Eiger peak belongs to famous Swiss Oberland trilogy : Monch and Jungfrau, Eiger is certainly one of the most iconic peaks in the Alps.
It is known around the world and even in countries with low mountaineering practice like Japan - Yoko Maki Japanese mountaineer climbs Mittelegi ridge in September 1921. " Japanese people have an image of Switzerland, and it is Grindelwald ".
First climb of Eiger north face was one of the last three "problems" of the Alps: three north face undefeated : Eiger, Matterhorn and Grandes Jorasses. Great Anderl Heckmair book (winner of the Eiger North Face ascent in 1938 ) used this title and details of these adventures including amazing climb on Walker spur in Grandes Jorasses.
Eiger north face is known by its high wall of more than 1600 m. Cold , often in the shade, it is characterized by abrupt wheather changes, rock falls, avalanches and severe thunderstorms.
Many faces require approach march , Eiger north face is located close to Kleine Scheidegg station on the amazing railway Jungfraubahn connecting Kleine Scheidegg station at Jungfraujoch , a tunnel through Eiger and Mönch to reach Jungfraujoch a pass between Mönch and Jungfrau.
Located at an altitude of 3,454 meters , this railway station on the Jungfraujoch is the highest in Europe.
Eiger and movies
The high reputation of Eiger resulted in creation
of 2 movies : "Eiger Sanction" (1974) and "The north face"
(2008 - describing one of first tragedy : death of Toni Kurtz and 3 others
mountaineers Willy Angerer, Eduard Rainer and his companion Andreas Hinterstoisser
leaving his name to a part of this route).
Eiger Sanction crew came in Kleine Sheidegg for two months. Most scenes were
performed on Jungfrau and Eiger slopes.
Bad Eiger which many attempts have ended in failure and death (more than 50
deaths in North face ) was confirmed, 2 days after movie's beginning David
Knowles a Scottish climber 27 years 's old, photographer was killed in a rock
fall.
These moments are immortalized by a few shots : Clint Eastwood poses in front
of the north face with Bellevue Hotel's owners, the picture is autographed.
Then he is photographed trying to sympathize with a cow in front of hilarious
face of George Kennedy.
On last photography Clint includes main actors of this movie and famous mountaineer
Reinhold Messner during filming in 1974.
Messner was accompanied by Peter Habeler, they came to climb Eiger north face
in only 10 hours.
In 1978 they reach together Everest summit, for the first time, without oxygen
...
This proximity to civilization, together with the presence
of hotels and tourists in Kleine Scheidegg made all attempts on Eiger north
face could be followed closely by being installed on hotels terraces.
Quickly telescopes have been pointed on Eiger wall. So Eiger north face became
famous worldwide.
Observers could almost in real time track climbs and inform medias (newspaper,
radio) immediately.
Amazing climbing times
Since 1938, the equipment continiously grow, so do men.
At this time ascents were made in "siege technic" : equipment depot
, bivouacs , big charges : ropes , food and equipment.
Success team has spent almost four days to reach Eiger summit.
From all mountains including Himalayan "alpin technic" has taken
over : minimum equipment , climbers undertake to reach the top quickly avoiding
bivouacs with minimal equipment.
— Eiger north face has gone from 3 days in 1938 to
— 10 hours in 1974 by Messner,
— Catherine Destivelle was completed in winter solo ascent in
17 hours.
— Amazing Swiss mountaineer Ueli Steck currently one of the most
climbers having climbed (see links section) Eiger, climbed 1 600 meters of
this face in 2 h 48 in winter.
— The current record held by Daniel Arnold 2011 : 2 h 28 in summer
!
Below, you can see french mountaineer Catherine
Destivelle, only women to make north face solo during winter in 1992 during
only 17 hours...
Eiger north face foot is now accessible by a hiking trail called Eiger Trail ( see map).
From Kleine Shceidegg , climb up to Eigergletscher station.
A well-marked path cross along north face bottom.
Close to scree and near first wall few funeral plaques recall deads cimbers.
On picture an ibex is looking on us .
This path allows access at the foot of the face.
Books
- On first ascent 1938 Heckmair book "3 last Alps problems" and
bestseller Heinrich Harrer "The White Spider"
- Eiger obsession John Harlin III - his father John Harlin II died during
the first of Eiger directissime after rappel rope breaking on a rock in 1966.
This route now is dedicated to John Harlin memory
It runs along walls, passing directly above amazing Mittellegi refuge then
continue on the beautiful grassy slopes leading to the pretty Alpigen station
stop where you can take train back to Grindelwald.
About two hours and good shoes for walking on Eiger Trail.